Water softener



June 25, 1935. MN WILBANKS f .2,006,287

i WATER soFTENER Filed-Nov. 14, 1932 IN V EN TOR.

'Parenteduune 25, 1935 PAT-ENT OFFICE WATER SOFTENER Allen M. Wilbanks, Amarillo, Tex., Ophelia, Wilbanks executrix` of will of said Allen M. 'Y

Wilbanks, deceased Application November 14, 1932, vSerial No. 842,612

4 Claims. (Cl. 210-24) This invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for softening water, and the principal object of the present invention is to simplify and improve prior apparatus designed for this 5 purpose, whereby the removal of solids from the water is greatly facilitated with uniform eiliciency by means of relatively inexpensive equipment requiring a minimum of skilled attention.

In prior apparatuses water is softened by passing it through a chemical' vsuch as zeolite and either pumped or otherwise forced out, by means unlike that' incorporated herein, cf the treating tank back tothe mains supplying the softened water for various purposes. The results vof prior equipment has been more or less unsatisfactory 4in that they require considerable attention and are limited to use where the waste or regenerative solution can only pass by gravity or pumped to the sewer.

Generally speaking the present invention contemplates the removal of ingredients such as calcium carbonate which causes the water to be hard.' This invention relies upon the regenerative qualities of ,salt'the same as other systems but I am able Iso-.rinse the zeolite with the salt solution much quicker and with .a minimum of labor. i a

Other objects and features of the invention will be readily understood from the following description in connectionwith the drawing.

The apparatus, as shown by the one gure of.

the drawing, includes an upright tank containing a lower compartment I'and an upper compartment 4, separated by a partition constituting the bottom of -the upper compartment.

'The lower compartment has upper an'd lower baille-plates 2- and 3, respectively, between which the compartment is charged,'through a portV normally closed by a plug I3, with gravel 6 on the bottom and Awith zeolite or other suitable softening material 1 thereabove, the gravel being to diffuse into the softening material watery forced upwardly through vthe lower baille-plate.

The upper compartment is charged with pure salt 9, as the regenerating material, through a port 'at the top normally closed by a cap 2 held 1n place by a clamp |0 and screw II.

The general construction of the tank is such that itis impossible for dust or other foreign matter to get Vinto Ythe salt and zeolite compartments. Due to the fluid-tight construction. there is prevened entrance lintothe compartments of air, 'which ordinarily causes corrosion ofv par and y contamination of water. y

TheA apparatus is full of water under main pressure while in use, and it is supplied with water from a main 28 entering through pipe 21 from near a. place designated by 29,. and it reenters the main through a pipe 32 connected near the place designated.. by 3|. A normally closed 5 valve in the main between pipes 21 and 32 maybe opened to permit water to continueinl the main to the place of use without'passlng through the apparatus. v

The supply-pipe 21 has a valve 24, therebe- 10 yond. it is4 T-coupled with a pipe I8 having a valve 23 below the coupling, and thence pipe I8 continues downwardly to a pipe I5 extending into a'chamber 8 below the batlle-plate3. I'he pipe I5 has an exit-orifice 3'1 directed downward- 15 1y toward the bottom of the tank.

The pipe I8, below thevalve 23, has a branch pipe 2| fitted with a valve 22; and, between that' valve and the pipe I8, the pipe 2| has a branch 20 controlled by a valve 39.- The pipe |8-has `20 an upper extension 38 entering the salt-compart-l ment 3 near its bottom, and the extension is tted with a .valve 25.

The pipe 34 has an upwardly-extending orifice -36 in the chamber 5 between `the upper baflle- 25 plate 2 and the bottom of the salt-chamber. The pipe '34 is connected with the reentrant or delivery pipe 32, which is fitted with a valve 33. A pipe 40, controlled by a valve 35, extends from pipe 34 to the upper part of the brine chamber. 30

- -When the apparatus is in normal operation for softening water, the valves 24', 23, and. 33 are open, and all other valves are closed. Water passes from the main through pipes21, I8, and I5 into thechamber 8, thence upwardly through 35 the baille-plate 3, gravel 6, zeolite- 1, and bailleplate 2 into chamber 5, and thence through pipes 34 and 32 back to the main. Water, during its flow upwardly through compartment 1, diffuses through the zeolite where the hard substances 40 are removed.

When it is desired to regenerate the zeolite with brine from lthe upper compartment, valves 24,-25, 35, and 22 are open, and all other valves are closed. Water from pipe 21passes through 45 pipe 38`into the bottom of the brine compartment,

upwardly through the salt, outwardly through pipes 4|! and 34, upwardly from orifice 36 against the bottonrof the brine-chamber, thence downwardly through baille-plate 2, zeolite, gravel, and baffle-plate 3 to chamber 8, and thence `through pipes I5, I8, vand. 2| to a sewer or other suitable place of disposal.

During the regenerating process, the speed of flow of Water through the apparatus is controlled,

and itsperiodical stoppage eifected, by manipulation of valve 24. Ordinarily, the regenerative solution is allowed to remain in contact with the zeolite for about 30 minutes.

' Faucets 26 of the brine-compartment and Il of the zeolite compartment, and valve 34, are provided for sampling iluids at intervals.

When the chamber 4 is to be refined with salt, faucet 26 is opened to permit water to seek the level thereof, thereby providing space for the salt. Valve-controlled pipe I8 is provided to drain the apparatus of liquid when required.

During both the softening and regenerating action of the apparatus, the tank always is iilled with water under the service pressure of the main; and, during the softening use, the valves having been set as hereinbefore described, no attention to the apparatus is required. The zeolite compartment is kept flooded with water as softened water is drawn oil for use, and the complete apparatus operates successfully under service water prssure irrespective of the location of the appara us.

Another important feature incorporated in this invention is the employment of baille plates 2 and 3 which segregates the zeolite from the softened and unsoftened water and also serves as a diffuser for the water or brine when either is allowed to pass through the zeolite. Another important feature is the employment oi' an inverted coupling 31 which causes the entering water to break up against the bottom of compartment I thereby facilitating the diffusion of the water upwards through baille plate 3 and gravel bed 6. In like manner orifice 38 is turned so as to cause the entering fluid to rush against the top of compartment I before diffusing through baille plate 2 to the zeolite.

What I claim as new is:

1. Water-softening apparatus comprising a fluid-tight container of water-softening materail, a fluid-tight tank of regenerating material, a vaivecontroued supply-pipe comestible with a main, a valve-controlled pipe-line extendingv 2. Water-softening apparatus comprising a fluid-tight container of water-softening material, a baille near the bottom thereof on which said material rests and providing a chamber therebelow, a fluid-tight tank for regenerating material, a valve-controlled supply-pipe connectible with a main, a valve-controlled pipe-line extending from said supply-pipe to said chamber, a valve-controlled discharge-exit in said pipe-line between the valve thereof and said chamber, a valve-controlled delivery-pipe extending from the upper portion of said container, av valve-controlled pipe in communication with said supply-pipe beyond its valve and with the lower part of said tank, and Va valve-controlled pipe extending from the upper part of said tank and connected with said delivery-pipe at a place between its. inner end and its valve.

3. Water-softening apparatus comprising a uid-tight casing containing a lower softeningchamber and an upper chamber for regenerating material, a valve-controlled supply-pipe connectextending from said supply-pipe to the bottom of said lower chamber, a valve-controlled discharge-exit in said pipe-line between the valve thereof and said lower chamber, a valve-controlled delivery-pipe extending from the upper part vof'said lower chamber, a valve-controlled pipe in communication with said supply-pipe beyond its valve and with the lower part of said upper chamber, and a valve-controlled pipe extending from the upper part of said upper chamber and connected with said delivery-pipe at a place between its inner end and its valve.

4. The combination, with a main having a valve therein, of Water-softeningy apparatus comprising a fluid-tight container of water-softening material, a fluid-tight tank of regenerating material, a valve-controlled supply-pipe connected with said main at one side of its valve, a valve-controlled pipe-line extending from said supply-pipe to the bottom part of said container, a valvecontrolled discharge-exit in said pipe-line between the valve thereof and said container, a

valve-controlled delivery-pipe extending from the 

